Hall Democrats re-opened their Athens Street headquarters Thursday
GAINESVILLE - Hall County Democrats cleared out the weeds, cleaned the carpet, and re-opened their Athens Street office Thursday for the first time in six years according to Chairman Frank Lock.<br />
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State candidates and their representatives met with local party members; Lock said its time to remind voters they have an election alternative.<br />
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"It's a two party system and we intend to work hard to make it a two party system again in Hall County," Lock said.<br />
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Lock said no Democrats are running for Gainesville or Hall County offices however; he hopes Democrats will run in local races in the next election.<br />
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"I have long term goals," Lock added. "I've started small and it got big and I've had success and the philosophy is the same with building up the Democratic Party."<br />
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Lock recalled one of the first things he had to do was get rid of a 20 foot weed that protruded through the side door.<br />
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"The weed was trying to take over the room so we got rid of that first," Lock recalled.<br />
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According to Lock the office officially opens next week and eventually will operate four or five days a week representing the 9th district.<br />
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Among state candidates making appearances were Robin Shipp, running for State Labor Commissioner, and Dr. David Vogel running for 9th District Congress.<br />
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Local party member Sheila Nicholas said the office re-opening was encouraging and she hopes it will be a rallying point.<br />
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"I want it to have the ability for a lot of people to come and make phone calls and realize that there are Democrats in Hall County," Nicholas said. "That's the exciting part about it; hopefully we can gather a lot of support."<br />
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Nicholas added she wants local Democrats to address women's and immigration issues and blames Republicans for the deadlock in Congress.